Hammer holster



Sept. 23, 1958 H. KILPATRICK HAMMER HOLSTER Filed Dec. 14, 1955 INVENTOR. H K} Zpairyz) 071 United States Patent Ofiice 2,852,824 Patented Sept. 23, 1958 HAMMER HOLSTER Harold Kilpatrick, East Point, Ga. Application December 14, 1955, Serial No. 553,064 2 Claims. (Cl. 24-3) This invention relates to a tool holder.

The object of the invention is to provide a holder for supporting a tool such as a hammer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tool holder for supporting a hammer such as a carpenters hammer whereby the hammer can be suspended or supported in a position which is convenient to the user and whereby the hammer will remain locked in the holder until it is to be used, the holder adapted to be manually unlocked with one hand when the hammer is to be removed from the holder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a hammer holder or support which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a hammer being supported by the holder of the present invention, and showing the holder attached to a suitable support which may be connected to a persons belt or the like.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the hammer holder, showing the keeper in locked position.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the hammer holder of Figure 1, with the keeper in unlocked position.

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the holder of the present invention, with the keeper in locked position.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view similar to Figure 3, but showing the keeper in locked position.

Figure 6 is a view taken from the side opposite shown in Figure 3 and showing the keeper in unlocked position.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken through the hammer holder, with the parts in the position shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a top plan view of the hammer holder, with the keeper in unlocked position.

Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 7 but showing a shim mounted on the keeper.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates a conventional hammer which includes the usual handle 11 and head 12. The head 12 is provided with a shank 14 and an enlarged head portion 15. The present invention is directed to a holder 16 which is adapted to be used for supporting the hammer 10, and the holder 16 may be secured to a suitable supporting structure 17 by securing elements 13, Figure 3. The supporting structure 17 may be provided with slits or cutouts 18, whereby the device can be attached to a workmans belt 19. However, it is to be understood that the holder 16 of the present invention can be attached to any desired supporting structure as for example to an apron or to other parts of a workmans clothing.

The holder 16 of the present invention includes a back wall 20 which is adapted to be arranged contiguous to the supporting structure 17 and the securing elements 13 may extend into the back wall 20. The holder 16 further includes a bottom wall 21, a front wall portion 22, and spaced parallel side walls 23 and 24, Figures 6 and 3, respectively.

The holder 16 includes a body member that is provided with an arcuate recess 25 which defines a chamber or compartment for receiving the cylindrical head 15 of the hammer 10 when the hammer is being supported as shown in Figure 1. The first side wall 22 of the body member is provided with an arcuate cutout 26, and the cutout 26 is adapted to have the shank 14 of the hammer head extend therethrough. The cutout 26 is of smaller size than the recess 25 so as to define a shoulder 27, and the shoulder 27 is abutted or engaged by a portion of the hammer head 15 so as to prevent accidental displacement of the hammer from the holder.

There is further provided a spring member 28 which has one end secured to the side wall 22 in any suitable manner. A bar or pin 29 is secured to the spring member 28, and the provision of the spring mounting 28 permits the bar 29 to move or shift slightly for a purpose to be later described. The pin or bar 29 is provided with an end portion 30 of reduced size, and the end portion 33 projects through a slot 31 in the side wall 24. The bar 29 is arranged in a slit or cutout 32 at. the bottom of the holder, Figure 7, and the bar 29 is arranged contiguous to the bottom of the holder so that when the hammer is in the position shown in Figure 1, the head 15 will engage the bar 29 to depress the bar 29 due to the weight of the hammer. The slot 31 permits the end portion 36 of the bar 29 to move up and down, depending upon whether or not the hammer is in the holder.

There is further provided an L-shaped keeper which is indicated generally by the numeral 33, and the keeper 33 includes a leg 34 which is pivotally connected to the side wall 24 by means of a pivot pin 35. The keeper 33 further includes an arm 36 which is arranged at right angles with respect to the leg 34, and the inner surface of the arm 36 is shaped arcuately as at 37 so as to conform to the shape of the hammer head 15. When desired, a plurality of shims 39 may be detachably connected to the inner surface 37 of the arm 36 by means: of a securing element or screw 38 whereby hammer heads of different sizes can be accommodated in the device. The back wall 2%) of the device may be provided with an opening or cut out 40 whereby a suitable tool such as a screwdriver can be inserted through the opening 40 so as to engage the kerf or slit in the screw 38, as when the shims 39 are to be removed or replaced.

A washer 41 may be mounted on the pivot pin 35, and a spring member 42 may have one end connected to the pin 35, while the other end of the spring 42 may be secured to the keeper 33. The leg 34 of the keeper 33 is provided with a pair of cutouts which define a pair of spaced apart dogs or teeth 44 and 45 for selectively engaging the outer projecting end 30 of the bar 29. A knob d6 may be secured to the outer surface of the arm 36 so as to facilitate manual movement of the keeper.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a holder or support for a tool such as a hammer. In use, the holder 1.6 may be secured to a suitable supporting structure such as the structure or member 17 in any suitable manner, as for example by means of the securing elements 13. Then, with the keeper 33 in the lowered or unlocked position as shown in Figures 3, 6, 7, 9 or 10, the hammer 10 can be arranged so that its head 15 seats in the chamber or recess 25 and at the same time the shank 14 projects through the cutout 26. As soon as the hammer is placed in this position, the weight of the hammer will cause the head 15 to engage the bar 29 and depress or pivot the bar 29 slightly so that the end portion 30 of the bar will be moved down out of the path of the tooth 44 whereby the spring member 42 will pivot the keeper 33 from the unlocked position-of Figure 3 to the locked position of Figures 1, 4 and 5. Thus, with the keeper 33 in the locked position as shown in Figures 1, 4 or 5, the hammer will be positively retainedin the holder 16 so that it can not be accidentally displaced or removed. However, when it is de sired to remove the hammer 10 as when the hammer is to be used, it is only necessary to manually engage the knob 46 and pivot the keeper 33 from the locked position shown in Figure l and to the unlocked position shown in Figures 3 and 6 whereby the hammer can be readily lifted or removed from the holder 16. The spring member 42 tends to normally urge or bias the keeper 33 to its locked position as shown in Figure l. The spring 28 provides a yieldable mounting for the bar 29 so that when the hammer head is placed in the recess 25, the weight of the hammer will depress the bar 29 so as to cause the reduced end portion 30 to clear the lug or tooth 44 whereby the keeper 33 can be free to pivot. The tooth 45 acts as a stop member to limit swinging movement of the keeper .33. The arrangement shown in Figure permits hammers of different sizes to be accommodate in the device. Thus, one or more of the shims 39 can be secured to the arm 36 by means of a securing element 38, and the securing element 38 can be adjusted by means of a screwdriver inserted through the opening 40.

The stop member 45 maintains the keeper 33 vertical until the keeper 33 is manually moved. The use of the shims 39 permits the device to be adjusted so that different hammer sizes can be supported or accommodated. The slit 32 in the bottom of the device provides sufiicient clearance for any debris that may be present. When the hammer is placed in the device, the hammer triggers the flexible bar 29 and this releases the keeper 33 so that the spring 42 causes the keeper to travel in an arc and thus secure the hammer head in the holder. To remove the hammer, the keeper 33 is pushed with the humb until the tooth 44 engages the end portion 30 of the bar 29 and the bar 29 thus holds the keeper 33 in open position until the hammer is replaced. Theholder may be mounted in any suitable locality as for example on a leather Scabbard, or on a nail apron, or else it can be attached by conventional clips to Work clothing. With the present invention, the hammer is quickly and readily accessible and only one hand is required for engaging and disengaging the hammer which is an especially important advantage when working on ceilings and walls.

I claim:

1. In a holder for a hammer of the type including a head and a reduced diameter shank, a body member including a back wall, a front wall, a bottom wall, first and second spaced parallel side walls, there being an arcuate recess in said body member defining a chamber for receiving the hammer head, said first side wall being provided with an arcuate cutout for the projection therethrough of said shank, said cutout being of smaller size than said recess whereby said head abuts the inner surface of said first side wall to prevent accidental displacement of the head out of said chamber, a spring member having one end secured to said first side wall, a bar having one end secured to said spring member, there being a slot in said second side wall, the outer end of said bar being of reduced size and projecting through said slot and out beyond said second wall, an L-shaped keeper including a leg pivotally connected to said second side wall, an arm arranged at right angles with respect to said leg and extending therefrom, a pivot pin extending through said leg and through said second side wall, and a spring member having one end connected to' said keeper and its other end connected to said pivot pin, there being a pair of cutouts in said leg defining a pair of teeth for engaging the outer end of said bar.

2. in a holder for a hammer of the type including a head and a reduced diameter shank, a body member in cluding a back wall, a front wall, a bottom wall, first and second spaced parallel side walls, there being an arcuate recess in said body member defining a chamber for receiving the hammer head, said first side wall being provided with an arcuate cutout for the projection therethrough of said shank, said cutout being of smaller size than said recess whereby said head abuts the inner surface of said first side Wall to prevent accidental displacement of the head out of said chamber, a spring member having one end secured to said first side wall, a bar having one end secured to said spring member, there being a slot in said second side wall, the outer end of said bar being of reduced size and projecting through said slot and out beyond said second wall, an L-shaped keeper including a leg pivotally connected to said second side wall, an arm arranged at right angles with respect to said leg and extending therefrom, a pivot pin extending through said leg and through said second side wall, a spring member having one end connected to said keeper and its other end connected to said pivot pin, there being a pair of cut-outs in said leg defining a pair of teeth for engaging the outer end of said bar, a plurality of shims detachably connected to the inner surface of said arm, and a securing element extending through said shims and engaging said arm, there being an opening in the back wall of said body member for the projection therethrough of a screwdriver to engage said securing element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 952,367 Sherkel Mar. 15, 1910 1,376,258 Cox Apr. 26, 1921 1,410,131 Smith Mar. 21, 1922 1,745,339 Folkman Jan. 28, 1930 2,091,093 Buccicone Aug. 24, 1937 2,147,608 Morehouse Feb. 14, 1939 2,645,834 Morehouse July 20, 1953 

